The International Red Cross says it is still concerned about the humanitarian situation in the city, where water and electricity supplies have been disrupted since Saturday.

About 40% of Basra's pumping capacity has been restored - but not enough to supply its two million inhabitants with clean water, an ICRC delegate told the BBC.

Meanwhile, the southern Rumeila oil fields, which on Friday had been pronounced "safe" by British and US troops taking them, were declared "unsafe" by US officials on Monday morning because of the presence of armed Iraqis in the area.

In other developments:

Iraq says 62 civilians have been killed and more than 400 wounded in various cities in past 24 hours

US military experts investigate what they say is a suspected chemical plant near the town of Najaf, about 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad

Syria condemns the deaths of five civilians, killed when a US missile hits a bus near the Iraqi border.

The Saudi Shura Council, which advises the ruler of Saudi Arabia, has called for an immediate end to the war in Iraq

US President George Bush says he expects a massive humanitarian aid programme for Iraq to begin within days.